 |
Pregnant woman
|
Dr. Luu D. Ireland obtained her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a masters in population and family health from Columbia University. Dr. Luu D. Ireland has worked in the obstetrics and gynecology unit at UMASS Medical Center since 2015. In this role, she advises women on their contraceptive options.
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a long-term form of birth control with a 99 percent effectiveness rate. IUDs provide low-maintenance birth control that remains effective between three and 12 years without impacting fertility. While the device has few side effects, IUDs are more appropriate for certain types of patients. For example, since some forms of IUDs do not use hormones, they are ideal for breastfeeding mothers.
On the other hand, since IUDs can slightly increase the risk of an ectopic pregnancy, they are not recommended for women with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or who may already be pregnant. IUDs are also not advised for women who are at risk of developing genital cancers.
